If you've seen the items the TSA has confiscated at airports across the country, you'll know the daily battle they're up against: gas masks, deer antlers, ninja "climbing claws." People try to fly with these things in their carry-ons! Thankfully, not everyone holds up the line by trying to bring their bejeweled lipstick stun gun through security—but there are five simple items that confuse most of us, the TSA revealed in a blog post yesterday. In no particular order:
Razors
Electric razors are allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Ditto for disposable razors, whether you completely chuck the whole thing when you're done with it, or it's the kind with the replaceable cartridges. Safety and straight razors are a different story: All blades must be packed in your checked bag, no matter what.
Batteries
The TSA has a whole list of the types of batteries that are allowed in your carry-on and checked bag. We'll spare you the riveting details, but bottom line is this: It's fine to pack the typical alkaline batteries in your carry-on—same with lithium batteries—but there are some limits on the allowance of each. (Translation: Good luck trying to fly with an Away bag chock full of batteries.) In fact, airlines actually prefer that you pack batteries in a carry-on, as a—gulp—fire will be easier to spot in case something goes awry.
Rechargeable cell batteries—like lithium-ion and lithium-polymer—have to be carried onboard; same goes for external battery chargers, power banks, and uninstalled or spare lithium ion batteries. (Yep, this means batteries have to come out of smart luggage and carried on.)
Car batteries, in the odd chance you want to lug one through, are absolutely not allowed.
Makeup
Checking your solid or liquid makeup? Go crazy! Pack whatever you want! When you do need to be more careful, though, is with carrying on makeup that's in a "liquid, lotion, gel, paste, or creamy form"—i.e. those larger bottles of concealer and foundation may be suspect. They have to be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less, within a clear, quart-sized, zip-top bag. (Each passenger is only allowed one of these.) If you have more makeup than that, we suggest sticking it in your checked bag.
Shampoo
Same rule: Shampoo and conditioner must be in containers that are 3.4 ounces or less, then put in one clear, quart-sized, zip-top bag.
Deodorant
Bring all the deodorant you want—there's no limit on the size or quantity of solid or powder deodorant. But spray deodorant à la Axe? That has to be 3.4 ounces or less, and in a—you guessed it!—clear, quart-sized, zip-top bag.